"Water without a source, tree without roots" is a Chinese idiom, which literally means water without a source and a tree without roots. This idiom is often used to describe things that have no foundation, lack of fundamentals, or things that have lost the basis for survival.

Origin of the idiom:

The idiom "water without a source is like a tree without roots" comes from the ancient Chinese Confucian classic "The Analects of Confucius". In the chapter of "The Analects of Confucius·Shuer", Zengzi, a disciple of Confucius, said: "I examine myself three times every day: Have I been unfaithful in my plans for others? Have I not believed in my friends? Have I not been accustomed to teaching?" This means that Zengzi said that every day Reflect on yourself from three aspects: Are you doing your best for others? Are you honest and trustworthy in your dealings with friends? Have you reviewed the knowledge taught by the teacher?

When talking about doing things for others, Zengzi went on to say: "A gentleman is based on his roots, and his roots are established and the Tao is born. Being a filial brother, what is the foundation of being a human being?" The "base" here refers to the root and foundation. "Tao" refers to the goal and direction of life. Zengzi believed that a gentleman should devote himself to the fundamentals. Only when the fundamentals are established can the goal and direction of life emerge. He also pointed out that filial piety to parents and respect for elders are the foundation for a person's conduct in the world. If this foundation is lost, life will be like "water without a source or a tree without roots" and cannot sustain development.

Detailed word explanation:

Water without source: water without source. Water requires a constant supply from a source to stay flowing and clear. Water without a source tends to be difficult to sustain and will dry up quickly.

Tree without roots: A tree without roots. Trees need their roots to absorb water and nutrients from the soil in order to grow. Trees without roots cannot survive, let alone flourish.

In short, the idiom "water without a source is like a tree without roots" warns people that when dealing with things, they must pay attention to the fundamentals and grasp the foundation. Only in this way can sustainable development and success be achieved.